Wiping away tears over a sad movie or a good laugh is important for your heart, but let’s not forget that tears play an important role in the health of your eyes. A healthy adult is constantly producing tears. These tears help wash away irritations, provide lubrication and help keep the surface of the eye nice and smooth. However, most healthy adults do not have a steady flow of tears running down their cheeks, so where do they all go?
Each time you blink, your eyelids coat your eyes with tears. At the same time, your eyelids are acting as pumps to remove the previous tears. In the corner of your eyes, closest to your nose, there are drainage openings called “puncta.” Puncta allow the tears flow out of your eyes and into your nasal passage (not down your cheeks). Dry eye disease is the eye’s inability to either produce enough tears, or an overall lack of “quality” tears.
What Causes Dry Eye Disease?
Sometimes, the eyes just don’t produce enough tears. Other times, the tears being produced are not “good quality.” There are three main components that make up your “tear film.” When one of these components is not there or insufficient, dry eye symptoms will appear. This is commonly referred to as “evaporative dry eye.” There are a few reasons why you could develop dry eye disease. The most common is growing older. By the age of 45, most people will be experiencing some symptoms of dry eye. As we grow older, decreased hormone production can lead to a dysfunction in tear production. A common risk factor is gender. Because of the hormonal changes that occur in women during pregnancy or menopause, women are at a higher risk of developing dry eye. Other causes can be certain lifestyle choices, such as smoking, or environmental issues such as being in a dry and windy climate. Even staring too long at a computer screen can cause dry eye disease. Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, are also known to cause dry eye disease. Blood pressure medication, decongestants and antidepressants can also result in dry eye disease.
Diagnosing Dry Eye Disease
Diagnosing dry eye disease is not as easy as simply realizing you have dry eyes. There could be contributing factors that need to be examined by your doctor. In addition to the factors mentioned above (environment, age, etc.) Dr. Alan Mendelsohn or Dr. Nathan Klein will need to examine your eyes, your eye lids and the surrounding area to determine what is causing your symptoms.
There are multiple tests available to diagnose dry eye disease. Alan Mendelsohn, M.D., and Nathan Klein, O.D. may perform multiple tests, as different types of dry eye require different methods of diagnosis. Unlike retail eye centers, Eye Surgeons and Consultants features the most state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, which allows us to both measure the quantity of tears that the eyes produce AND evaluate the exact cause of our patients’ dry eye disease.
Treating Dry Eye Disease
Treatment for Dry-Eye Disease is dependent on the cause. Frequently, adding additional tears via over-the-counter eye drops is sufficient. The supplemental tears should be used four times a day; occasionally, drops at two-hour intervals are required to clear the symptoms. Drs. Mendelsohn and Klein recommend refrigerating these over-the-counter eye drops because at lower temperatures, the viscosity of the drops increase and they are better able to penetrate the eye.
If over-the-counter drops aren’t working for you, Alan Mendelsohn MD, FACS, and Nathan Klein OD, often recommend prescription options for dry eyes. Very fortunately, there are now a myriad of excellent dry eye drops which have different mechanisms of action. Based on your clinical examination, our physicians will make specific recommendations and explain their rationale for the utilization of one or more prescription drops for dry eyes depending on the signs and symptoms.
While rare, the side effects from these prescription dry eye drops can be formidable. In addition, frustratingly, many insurance companies won’t cover these medications, and the high annual out-of-pocket cost encourages many patients to seek alternative options. Dr. Nathan Klein specializes in performing a two-minute in-office non-invasive procedure called punctal plug insertion which is recommended by and covered by insurance.
There are two types of punctal plugs: The first type are microscopic-sized collagen plugs, the size of a single grain of rice, inserted into lower eyelid tear ducts, called eyelid puncta, to increase the eyes’ tear film and surface moisture. The second type, Lacrifill is performed for all four eyelids, specifically for moderate to extensive dry eyes. Dr. Klein works with each individual patient to customize collagen plugs or Lacrifill for ideal comfort and ocular surface health. Following either of these two-minute, in-office procedures, patients experience no pain, discomfort or any downtime, resuming normal activities immediately, including exercising and swimming. Due to his excellent skills and gentle touch, Dr. Klein is able to ensure patients are thrilled with their tremendous symptom relief and newfound comfort.
If you are dealing with dry eye syndrome and would like to discuss your treatment options, be sure to contact Eye Surgeons and Consultants of Hollywood, Florida today! Dr. Alan Mendelsohn and Dr. Nathan Klein are always happy to help you get rid of your frustrating dry eye symptoms. Call (954)894-1500 to set up your appointment today.